Jean Marie Konopka

Jean Marie Konopka, age 76, passed away on Wednesday, February 10, 2021 after an extended illness. She was born in 1944 at the Fort McCoy Army base in Wisconsin to the late Francis Earl and Lena Grolemund. She was married to her devoted husband, Michael Konopka for 42 years. Jean graduated from St. Benedict Academy in her hometown of Erie, Pennsylvania, and retired from the Federal Government in Washington, DC, working in Administrative positions for many agencies, including the US Navy at the Pentagon, the Army Space and Missile Defense Command, and the TSA. After her retirement, she volunteered at the Washington Mt. Vernon Library as well as the INOVA Mt. Vernon Hospital. Jean cherished the extensive rose garden that her husband Michael planted and kept meticulously maintained. She was known for keeping her co-workers and neighbors supplied with beautiful roses on a daily basis. She was an avid reader who had an extensive library with numerous signed first editions, and she was a loyal fan of the Washington Nationals. She is survived by her husband Michael Konopka, her sisters Bette Gillette (Grant), Fairport, NY, Leeann Mills (Wendell), Erie, PA, her brother Earl Grolemund (Joyce), North East, PA, her stepson Matt Konopka (Crystal), Haymarket, VA, nieces Deborah Apthorp (Scott), North East, PA, Michelle Barbich-Ritzel (Jim), Erie, PA, Clara Bartlett (John), North East, PA, nephews Christopher Jones (Sarah), North East, PA, Benjamin Grolemund, North East, PA and grandchildren Dillon and Lily Konopka of Haymarket, VA. Jean was a kind, generous, and caring person who loved many, many people...and they all loved her back. A private ceremony will be held at a later date at the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA where she will be laid to rest. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Mount Vernon Library, 3600 Mt. Vernon Memorial Highway, Mt. Vernon, VA 22121.